🌈  DignityUSA Conference 2025  |  July 4–6, Dublin, OH  |  Register Now!
Dignitys First Biennial Convention is held in Los Angeles
🌈  DignityUSA Conference 2025  |  July 4–6, Dublin, OH  |  Register Now!
July 5, 2008
by
DignityUSA
<table border=0 cellpadding=6 cellspacing=0 width=95%>
<tbody>
<tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
<b>Theme</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
"The Spirit is Calling Us"</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
<b>Dates</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
August 31 to September 3 1973</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
<b>Major Speaker</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
Father John J. McNeill S.J.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
<b>Special Guest</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
Father Patrick Nidorf O.S.A.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
<b>Registration Fee</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
$7.50</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
<b>Site</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
Holiday Inn 1755 North Highland Avenue Hollywood California</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
<b>Registrations</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
300</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
<b>Membership</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
449</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
<b>Chapters</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
12</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
<b>Charters in Formation</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
12</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
<b>National Officers Elected</b></p>
</td>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
The first election is held and the following slate from Dignity/Boston is elected:</p>
<ul>
<li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; >
Paul A. Diederich (President)</li>
<li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; >
Rev. Thomas C. Oddo C.S.C. (Secretary)</li>
<li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; >
John E. Hart (Treasurer)</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
<b>Highlights</b></p>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
<img alt=1973 Convention logo height=176 src=http://www.dignityusa.org/sites/default/files/images/73conv-logo.gif width=144 /></p>
</td>
<td>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
A provisional Constitution is drafted to be sent to members for ratification. The document includes our <a href=http://www.dignityusa.org/purpose style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0 0 102); text-decoration: none; ><b><i>Statement of Position and Purpose</i></b></a>.</p>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
During the convention Father McNeill and Father Jim Fleck one of the founders of Dignity/Cincinnati rewrite the second paragraph of Bob Fournier’s original<i>Statement of Position and Purpose</i> to state:</p>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
"We believe that gays can express their sexuality in a manner that is consonant with Christ’s teaching. We believe that all sexuality should be exercised in an ethically responsible and unselfish way."</p>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
The Constitution also calls for the formation of a Board of Governors comprised of two representatives (a man and a woman) from each chapter and mission and states that the three national officers (all from one chapter to facilitate their work for Dignity) should be elected by convention delegates.</p>
<p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >
Delegates also vote to send letters to:</p>
<ul>
<li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; >
Bishops of the United States</li>
<li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; >
Superiors of Religious Orders</li>
<li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; >
Clergy and Members of Metropolitan Community Church</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Get key campaign updates, LGBTQIA+ Catholic news, and community happenings right to your inbox a few times per month.Â